Elder Social Services

Labouré Center

The Labouré Center’s Elder Social Services program offers in-home and center-based counseling, outreach, advocacy, information and referral, and service coordination for elders and their caregivers. The program provides comprehensive social services to assist elders as they adjust to illness and aging and empowers them to access needed services such as Meals on Wheels, medical visits, or homemaking services. Elders who participate in the program will ultimately be able to advocate effectively for themselves, improve the quality of their lives, increase self-esteem and problem solving skills, and most importantly, will adjust to aging.

The Elder Social Service program is offered to the community free of charge on an on-going basis. Services are provided by a social work staff. For more information, call 617-268-9670.

Haitian Elder Services

Many Haitian elders arrive in the United States facing numerous obstacles, including pronounced poverty, linguistic, cultural, economic, or physical barriers, which directly affects their access to resources and their ability to adjust to a vastly different culture and mindset. Of the Haitian population, elders are the most at risk for poor nutrition, poor health, and isolation. Many also struggle with the effects of physical, mental, and emotional abuse at the hands of the Haitian government.

The Haitian Elder Services Program offers a wide array of services, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), citizenship, and native language literacy classes; counseling; and Basic Needs Services, such as emergency food, fuel, and rental assistance.

Cultural and recreational events also are organized for socializing with member of the community, with the goal of limiting feelings of isolation and loneliness. Outreach and intervention is provided to those who develop increasing health problems, a situation worsened by isolation.

For more information about the Haitian Elder Services program, call 617-506-6600.

Volunteer Home Visiting

The Volunteer Home Visiting program serves approximately 8,000 low-income, frail, isolated, homebound elders living in the Brockton area and surrounding communities. The program recruits and trains volunteers from faith-based communities to provide outreach and friendly visiting services. Volunteers also track elders when they are admitted to area hospitals and nursing facilities and provide comfort and support to those whose families are not present.

The Volunteer Home Visiting program is a program of Catholic Charities West. For more information, call 508-647-5638.